Positioning device for stent

ABSTRACT

A positioning device for a stent includes a positioning member including a handle and an extension secured to the handle wherein the handle and the extension are coaxially connected, and an open end of the extension is provided with a hollow first magnetic member; and a stent inserted into a blood vessel and including a first stent member inserted into an artificial blood vessel, the first stent member being separated into two second stent members inserted into the artificial blood vessel wherein a diameter of the first stent member is greater than that of each second stent member, and a diameter of each second stent member is greater than that of the extension, the stent further comprising at least one second magnetic member on the first stent member proximate an open end thereof, the second magnetic member being configured to attach to the first magnetic member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to positioning devices and more particularly to apositioning device for a stent in which a positioning member is placedin a stent which is inserted into a blood vessel, the positioning memberhas a first magnetic member, and the stent has second magnetic membersadapted to attach to the first magnetic member so that the positioningmember and the stent can be releasably fastened together, thepositioning member is capable of locating corresponding screws in thestent, and the stent is secured to an aorta and artery of abdomen.

2. Description of Related Art

In the procedure of treating aortic aneurysm, a metal guide wire isinserted into the aorta. Next, aortography is performed to identify theaneurysm of aorta and ascertain both length and diameter of the aorticaneurysm. These data are used to select an appropriate stent. Next, theguide wire is advanced through the blood vessel. Next, the stent passesover the guide wire until it reaches a predetermined position in theblood vessel. Finally, both a sheath of the stent and the guide wire areremoved. As a result, the stent is expanded so as to keep the bloodvessel open. The endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysm has thefollowing advantages in comparison with the conventional incisionthrough the abdomen based on clinical study: short operation time, asmall quantity of blood being lost in operation, and quick recovery timeafter operation.

It is typical of using screws to secure the stent to the blood vesselfor preventing the stent from being disengaged from the blood vessel.However, it is difficult of positioning the positioning member to apredetermined position of the stent by screwing.

Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a positioningdevice for a stent by attracting one magnetic member to another magneticmember so that it is possible of positioning a positioning member to apredetermined position of the stent.

For achieving above and other objects, the invention provides apositioning member including a handle and an extension secured to thehandle wherein the handle and the extension are coaxially connected, andan open end of the extension is provided with a hollow first magneticmember; and a stent inserted into a blood vessel and including a firststent member inserted into an artificial blood vessel, the first stentmember being separated into two second stent members inserted into theartificial blood vessel wherein a diameter of the first stent member isgreater than that of each second stent member, and a diameter of eachsecond stent member is greater than that of the extension, the stentfurther comprising at least one second magnetic member on the firststent member proximate an open end thereof, the second magnetic memberbeing configured to attach to the first magnetic member.

By utilizing the invention, the second magnetic member is attached tothe first magnetic member due to magnetic field. The open end of theextension can be automatically attached to the second magnetic member. Ascrew is provided in the positioning member. The screw moves along anaxis of the extension until reaches an end of the first magnetic member.The second magnetic members thus attach to the first magnetic member.The screw is secured to the second magnetic member. The stent is securedto an artery of abdomen. This is a quick fastening process.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description taken withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a positioning member according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stent according to a first preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stent according to a second preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stent according to a third preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stent according to a fourth preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the stent placed in an artery ofabdomen, the extension passing through the stent, and the first magneticmember attached to a predetermined position proximate the secondmagnetic member according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a plurality of screws secured to thesecond magnetic members according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a positioning device for stent in accordance withthe invention comprises a positioning member 10 including a handle 12and an extension 14 secured to the handle 12. The handle 12 and theextension 14 are coaxially connected. An open end of the extension 14 isprovided with a hollow first magnetic member 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, a stent 201 in accordance with a first preferredembodiment of the invention is shown. The stent 201 is inserted into ablood vessel and is implemented as including a first stent member 22inserted into an artificial blood vessel. The first stent member 22 isseparated into two second stent members 24 inserted into the artificialblood vessel. As shown in the right side of FIG. 2, a third stent 25 isextended from the second stent member 24 into the artificial bloodvessel. A diameter of the first stent member 22 is greater than that ofeach second stent member 24. A diameter of each second stent member 24is greater than that of the extension 14. A plurality of hollow circularsecond magnetic members 26 are spaced around the first stent member 22proximate an open end of the first stent member 22. The second magneticmembers 26 are configured to attach to the first magnetic member 16 dueto magnetic field. The first stent member 22 and the second stentmembers 24 are formed integrally.

Referring to FIG. 3, a stent 202 in accordance with a second preferredembodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the stent202 of the second preferred embodiment are substantially the same as thestent 201 of the first preferred embodiment except the following: aplurality of second magnetic members 27 are solid rectangular.

Referring to FIG. 4, a stent 203 in accordance with a third preferredembodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the stent203 of the third preferred embodiment are described below. The stent 203is inserted into a blood vessel and is implemented as including a firststent member 22 inserted into an artificial blood vessel. The firststent member 22 is separated into two second stent members 24 insertedinto the artificial blood vessel. A third stent 25 into the artificialblood vessel is extended from either one of the second stent members 24.As shown in FIG. 4, the third stent 25 is extended from the right secondstent member 24 and inserted into the artificial blood vessel. Aplurality of third magnetic members 28 are spaced around the third stent25 proximate an open end of the third stent 25. Further, a plurality ofthird magnetic members 28 are spaced around the second stent member 24proximate an open end of the second stent member 24.

Referring to FIG. 5, a stent 204 in accordance with a fourth preferredembodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the stent204 of the fourth preferred embodiment are described below. The stent204 is inserted into a blood vessel and is implemented as including afirst stent member 22 inserted into an artificial blood vessel. Thefirst stent member 22 is separated into two second stent members 24inserted into the artificial blood vessel. A third stent 25 into theartificial blood vessel is extended from the left second stent member24, another third stent 25 into the artificial blood vessel is extendedfrom the right second stent member 24, and a further third stent 25 intothe artificial blood vessel is extended from another third stent 25. Aplurality of third magnetic members 28 are spaced around the third stent25 proximate an open end of the third stent 25 on the left of FIG. 5 anda plurality of third magnetic members 28 are spaced around the furtherthird stent 25 proximate an open end of the further third stent 25.

Referring to FIG. 6 in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2, the stent 201 isplaced in an artery 40 of abdomen. When the positioning member 10 passesthrough the stent 201, a user may hold the handle 12 to insert theextension 14 through the second stent member 24. The extension 14further enters the first stent member 22. As described above, the secondmagnetic members 26 are spaced around an end of the stent 22. Thus, thefirst magnetic member 16 at the open end of the extension 14 isattracted by the second magnetic members 26. At least one screw (one isshown) 30 is provided in the positioning member 10. The screw 30 isplaced from an end of the handle 12 and further moves along an axis ofthe extension 14 until reaches an end of the first magnetic member 16.The second magnetic members 26 attach to the first magnetic member 16due to magnetic field. Thus, the screw 30 is fastened in a positionproximate the second magnetic members 26. As shown in FIG. 6, the thirdstent 25 is placed in the second stent member 24.

Referring to FIG. 7 in conjunction with FIG. 6, the stent 201 is placedin the artery 40 of the abdomen and the screws 30 are fastened. Indetail, each screw 30 is fastened in a central, circular hole of thesecond magnetic member 26. Taking the stent 202 of FIG. 3 placed in theartery 40 of the abdomen as an example, positions proximate the secondmagnetic members 26 are defined as predetermined positions to beattached. Thus, each screw 30 is fastened in the predetermined position.As a result, the stent 201 is securely placed in the artery 40 of theabdomen.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferredembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A positioning device for a stent, comprising: apositioning member including a handle and an extension secured to thehandle wherein the handle and the extension are coaxially connected, andan open end of the extension is provided with a hollow first magneticmember; and a stent inserted into a blood vessel and including a firststent member inserted into an artificial blood vessel, the first stentmember being separated into two second stent members inserted into theartificial blood vessel wherein a diameter of the first stent member isgreater than that of each second stent member, and a diameter of eachsecond stent member is greater than that of the extension, the stentfurther comprising at least one second magnetic member on the firststent member proximate an open end thereof, the second magnetic memberbeing configured to attach to the first magnetic member.
 2. Thepositioning device for stent of claim 1, further comprising at least onescrew in the positioning member wherein the screw is placed from an endof the handle and moves through the extension until reaches apredetermined position of attaching the at least one second magneticmember to the first magnetic member, and the predetermined position is acenter of the second magnetic member.
 3. The positioning device forstent of claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one second magneticmember is more than one, and the second magnetic members are spacedapart.
 4. The positioning device for stent of claim 2, wherein thenumber of the at least one second magnetic member is more than one, andthe second magnetic members are spaced apart.
 5. The positioning devicefor stent of claim 1, further comprising at least one third stentextended from the at least one second stent member into the artificialblood vessel wherein the at least one third stent is disposed in the atleast one second stent member.
 6. The positioning device for stent ofclaim 5, further comprising a third stent into the artificial bloodvessel extended from a left one of the second stent members, anotherthird stent into the artificial blood vessel extended from a right oneof the second stent members, and a further third stent into theartificial blood vessel extended from the another third stent.
 7. Thepositioning device for stent of claim 5, further comprising at least onethird magnetic member spaced around one of the at least one third stentproximate an open end thereof, and at least one third magnetic memberspaced around another one of the at least one third stent proximate anopen end thereof.
 8. The positioning device for stent of claim 1,wherein the second magnetic members are hollow circular or solidrectangular.